Factors/attributes for a Presentation

21 April 2002

When utilizing graphic presentations during an oral presentation, you need to ensure that your graph or chart is not too cluttered with too much information. Having too much information on a graph or chart is worse than not having one at all. If the audience is spending more time trying to read all the information that is on your graph/chart, than their focus will not be on you, the speaker, and you may as well just sent them an email. Always make sure that your visual presentation does not have too much data and is easy to understand.

When giving an oral presentation utilizing visual aids, you should never speak to your graphs/charts. The audience can read them. The purpose of visual aids is only to demonstrate what you are talking about. If you are spending all of your time speaking to your graphs/charts, then your audience will assume that you don't know what you are talking about.

Ensure that you proofread your graphics as well. Misspellings, incorrect information, or the wrong color font that blends into the background will cause your audience to think that you didn't properly prepare. This will lower the chances of your audience taking your seriously as well.

Especially when giving a brief to a large room, make sure that everyone can hear you to include the audience members in the back. It is very frustrating for someone in the back if you are not speaking clearly and loudly enough. If an audience has to try and strain to hear what you are saying then his/her focus will be centered on just trying to hear you and digesting the material that you are presenting.